Streetwear aesthetic
Streetwear is casual, bold clothing that grew out of skate, surf and hip-hop culture. Hoodies, graphic tees, cargo pants, caps and, above all, sneakers. It is comfortable, confident and built around the shoes.
- Black#111111
- White#f5f5f5
- Signal red#e63b2e
- Concrete#6b7b8c
- Hazard yellow#f2c230
Key pieces
- Oversized hoodie
- Graphic tee
- Cargo pants
- Statement sneakers
- Fitted cap
- Puffer or varsity jacket
What is the streetwear aesthetic?
Streetwear is the clothing of the street rather than the runway: easy to move in, loud in the right places and full of references to music, sport and art. Graphics and logos are part of the language, and so are limited "drops" that sell out in minutes.
It is generally traced to New York hip-hop and California surf and skate culture in the late 1970s and 1980s. Sneakers have been central since that time. In 1982 Dapper Dan opened his custom boutique in Harlem, remixing luxury logos for hip-hop artists. By the 2010s, streetwear had moved into the biggest fashion houses.
The streetwear color palette
Black, white, concrete grey and one loud accent like signal red or hazard yellow. Most streetwear outfits are built on neutrals so that one graphic, one color or one pair of sneakers stands out.
How to dress streetwear
- Tops: oversized hoodies, graphic tees, long sleeves with sleeve prints, sports jerseys.
- Bottoms: cargo pants, baggy jeans, track pants, nylon shorts.
- Outerwear: puffer jackets, varsity jackets, windbreakers, workwear jackets.
- Shoes: statement sneakers. Basketball, skate and running styles all work.
- Details: a fitted or dad cap, a crossbody sling bag, a beanie, tall white socks.
Three easy outfits: a graphic tee with cargo pants and chunky sneakers; an oversized hoodie with baggy jeans and a cap; a varsity jacket over a plain white tee with track pants.
The usual rule is to start from the sneakers and build up. Keep the rest simple so the shoes can do the talking.
Streetwear room ideas
A streetwear room shows off what you love. A sneaker wall or clear display boxes, a gaming or music setup, posters and figures, a bold rug and colored LED light strips. Keep the walls dark or plain white so the collection stands out.
Streetwear vs grunge
Both are casual and both love tees and boots. Grunge is thrifted, worn and rooted in 90s rock. Streetwear is fresh and graphic, rooted in skate and hip-hop, and clean sneakers matter a lot. A scuffed shoe is a badge in grunge and a small tragedy in streetwear.
Is streetwear your aesthetic?
If you check sneaker release dates and own more hoodies than shirts, you probably know already. Take the aesthetic quiz to confirm, or the clothing quiz for a fashion-only result.
Sources
- Streetwear, Wikipedia: New York hip-hop and California surf roots, sneakers and Dapper Dan in 1982.
Not sure which style is yours? Twelve picture questions will tell you.
Take the aesthetic quiz